Cut-off for gas-supply pipes



(No Model.)

A. REESE.

GUT-OFF FOR GAS SUPPLY PIPES.

, Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

ABRAM REESE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUT-OFF FOR GAS-SUPPLY PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,168, dated August 9, 1887.

Application filed January 2, 1886. Serial No. 187,303. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LABRAM Rnnsn,of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cut-Offs for Gas-Supply Pipes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to cut-offs for gassupply pipes, its object being to provide simple and eiiieient cut-off apparatus by means of which, in case the supply of gas to the grate or fire-place should cease from any cause, the entrance-port is automatically closed and the gas cannot be turned on thereto until said eutrance-port is opened, so that by closing the supply-opening as soon as the gas is turned off, or from some accident the supply ceases,all danger of accident when the gas is turned on will be overcome.

In a class of devices known as gasregulators for regulating the pressure and extent of the supply of gas passing through an entryport, a number of devices have been used. One form has aplate pivoted near the supplyopening and means in the gas supply pipe for closing or partially closing said opening when the pressure becomes too great. Another form has a counterbalanced stop-plate over the supply-port for regulating the area of said port according to the pressure of the gas in the supply-pipe. Still another construction has an expanding bellows operated by the pressure of the gas for regulating the inflow of gas at the supply-port, and others have aslide-valve operated by a system of leverage for regulating by hand the area of the supplyport; but my improved cut-off is not intended to regulate the amount of gas flowing through the supplyport, as in the before-mentioned devices, but is designed to automatically close the supply port as soon as the gas in the pipes ceases to flow for any cause, and keep this port closed until the cut-off is opened by some positive means.

To this end the invention consists in a cutoff having a pivoted stop-plate adapted to pass over the gasentrance and close the same,said pivoted stop-plate being held up by the pressure of the gas as it passes through the supply=- opening to the grate, it being intended to employ my invention between the ordinary supply-cock to the grate and the gas-burner of the grate, so thatas long as the pressure of the gas continues the cut-off apparatus will not act; but as soon as the gas-supply is cut off by the valve or ceases for any reason the stop-plate will close the gas'entrance, and it will be necessary to open it before the gas can be ignited at the grate.

It also consists in certain details of construction,as herein specifieall y set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of my improved cut-off apparatus. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same where the supply-opening is open, and Fig. 3 is a like view showing the same where the supplyopening is closed by the stop-plate.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My improved cut-off is formed of two disks, (2 b, screwed together and having suitable sockets at their ends, as at c, by means of which they are connected to the pipes d d, leading, respectively, from the supply-pipe and to the grate. The disk I) has formed therein the chamber a, at one side of which isformed the supply-openingf, and the gas passes from the supply-pipe d into the chamber 0, and thence through the supplyportf into the chamber y, formed in the disk to within the annular flange a, the interior of which flange is threaded, as shown, and into which flange the projection 72 on the disk I) is screwed, and the gas passing from said chamber g into the pipe (1, leading into the grate or fire-place. livoted on the outer face of the annular projection b of the disk b, and within the chamber 1, is the lever 71, having at one end thereof the cut-off plate k, the said lever being accurately counterbalanced, so that the end carrying the stop-plate 7c is sufficiently heavy to descend as soon as the pressure of the gas through the supply-openin g f ceases. Below the stop-plate 7; is formed the curved lip Z, which lip extends out in such position that the gas entering through the supply-portf will strike against the lip, and will by its impact or pressure thereon raise the end of the lever carrying the stop-plate k and pre vent it from descending across the supply-port.

The stop-plate 70 has the wedge-piece m at the end thereof, and secured to the face b of the disk b, at the side of the port f,is the latch or bracket 0%, into which this wedge-piece of the stop-plate enters, and by means of which ,when the stop-plate falls across the port, this wedge m is caused to wedge the stop-plate against the port f, thus closing the port and preventing the escape of gas.

In order to raise the stop-plate and open the port,I provide any suitable lever or equivalent device, that shown being an arm, p,secured to the shaft 9*, extending through the disk b,and having at its outer end the finger-piece s, by means of which the arm 9 maybe turned, so as to press upon the lever 7L and depress the lower end, thus raising the stop-plate and uncovering the supply-port. WVhere my cut-off is employed in the room in which the grate is located, this lever mechanism for raising the stop-plate may be turned by means of the finger-piece s; but where the cut-off is placed in the cellar, where the pipes are generally located, a suitable wire or other device may be connected to said finger-piece and extend up through the floor of the room, so that after the gas has been turned on at the stop-cock the stop-plate k may be raised, as above described,

and it will then be held up by the current of gas passing through the supply-pipe.

Vfhen my improved cut-off is employed, as before stated, it is' generally located between the grate or furnace, and the stop-cock for regulating the flow of gas to the burner, and the party desiring to light the fire, after placing the match on the refractory material in the grate, opens the stop-cock, and by means of the lever mechanism raises the stop-plate, so as to open the supply-pipe f in the cut-offbox. As soon as the gas gains sufficient pressure to hold up the stop-plate, the arm 19 must be turned out of the way, so as to allow the stop-plate to work automatically. The pressure of gas upon the lip Z, extending out below the stopplate,will then hold the stop-plate up until the gas is turned off, or, in case the gas should cease flowing for any reason when there is no pressure or impact upon the lip Z, the stop-plate will descend and close the supply-port, and when the gas commences again to flow it is evident that, as the supply-port fis closed, the gas cannot pass through the cutoff box and all liability of gas escaping into the compartment is overcome. By this simple device I am thus enabled to prevent the escape of gas in case, for any reason, while the fire is lighted the supply of gas should cease or be shut off for a short'period and again, turned on, and I am thus enabled to prevent any of the serious accidents which have been caused by the escape of gas under such circumstances.

Theidevice is simple in construction and can be applied at but slight cost, so that it can be employed with all gas-burning grates.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination of a chamber having a partition with a supply-port therein, and a pivoted stop-plate having a lip bent at an angle to the stop-plate andv at the base thereof in the course of the gas passing through the supply-port, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a chamber having a partition with a supply-port therein, a pivoted stop-plate adapted to close said port,'and a bracket to receive the end of said stop-plate and press it against the port, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a chamber having a partition with a supply-port therein, a coun:

terbalanced pivoted stop-plate having alip thereon, against which the gas impinges to keep the valve open, and a lever passing from the interior to the exterior of said cut-off for opening said valve when closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I, the said ABRAM REEsE, have hereunto set my hand.

ABRAM REESE. 

